Love Tanya - Book Review

Before recieving 'Love Tanya' for Tanya Burr as a gift for Christmas I had never really ventured into reading non-fiction or lifestyle books. However, after reading this I am completely converted to this genre of reading. A book that covers life, health, food and a book that also gives advise without being patronising is something I thought would be a hard find but it definitely hasn't been the case with 'Love Tanya'. You can tell how much effort Tanya has put into the production of the book and every fine detail has been perfected, from the cover, fonts and the pictures inside. One thing I have to say is that even if you are not an avid reader of Tanya's blog or a viewer of her YouTube channel, the book still has the friendly, bubbly bursts of Tanya's personality engraved throughout. My favourite section of the books was the abundance of recipes created by Tanya as they all seem like so much fun to make. I am also a massive fan of the photography as it is clean cut, full of God lighting and overall it is aesthetically pleasing to see. 

I would without a doubt recommend this book to a people of all ages and I hope you enjoyed this little review as I really enjoy writing them.  

What i got for Christmas 2015

Hey guys!

I always see a lot of these floting around at this time of year and the last time i did one was over 2 years ago. I thought i would do the What i got for christmas post as these are some of my favourite types of posts to read as well as watch. Obviously i am not posting this to show off or anything like that i just thi=ought that some of you might be interested in what i got for christmas.

       *Soap & Glory travel miniatures set

                                                            *Sex and the city perfume

                                                         *candles

                                                           *Mac cremesheen lipstick in Hue.

                                                                     *Minnie Mouse hair turban towel.

                                                                      *Primark socks

                                                                    *Sephora shower gel, perfume, mask.

                                                                       *Heart  bath fizzers.

                                                                      *White Grace perfume set.

                                                             *Jack Wills trio of body sprays.

                                                                 *Topshop birthstone necklace.

                                                        *Primark Pyjamas.

                                               *Millie Marotta Tropical Wonderland colouring book.

                                                               *John Lewis earmuff headphones.

                                                    *Zoella Beauty diffuser.

Lots of pictures i know! I am so thankful for all of these gifts so thankyou to my friends and family for buying them for me! i hope you enjoyed this post and make sure you let me know what you got for xmas!

Lots of love...

El | Makeup and Other Junk

The Single Girls to do list by Lindsey Kelk

I read this book a while ago now but i thought that it was never too late too tell you all about it! I adore the I heart series by Lindsey Kelk so i kind of already knew that i was bound to fall in love with this novel too.

Rachel Summers loves a to-do list:
• Boyfriend
• Flat
• Great job
NOT on the list:
• Being dumped
Best friends Emelie and Matthew ride to her rescue with an entirely new kind of list – The Single Girl’s To-Do List. Rachel doesn’t know it, but it will take her on all kinds of wild adventures – and get her in some romantic pickles too. And then it won't be a case of what but who she decides to tick off…
• Mr. bendy yoga instructor
• Mr. teenage sweetheart
• Mr. persistent ex
• Mr. deeply unsuitable
The Single Girl’s To-Do List gives Rachel the perfect heartbreak cure – and proves love is out there if you’re willing to take a chance.

i really loved this book and it was such a rollercoaster it made me laugh it made me cry so if you love books like this then be sure to give it a read!

Life update

Hi everyone,

I think it's fair to say that my last blog post definitely wasn't the most upbeat but today I am feeling a lot more optimistic and better about what is happening in my life at the minute.

So, last Monday I finally sent of my university applications! I decided to an Englisb and Media combined joint honours course and I've applied for; Lancaster university, Bangor University, Nottingham Trent university, Brighton university and Lincoln university. The worst part was definitely waiting for the replies to come back telling me whether I was being offered a place or not. It was getting towards the end of the week and I still hadn't heard anything from any of them and then I got  flute offers in a day! Which is really crazy and not something I was expecting! Haha but I've not got offers from all the universities I applied to which I am so happy about. But I now have to decide my top two choices and I am definitely choosing Lancaster as my first choice and I need to get AAB in my exams to go there which is a lot of work but I am determined to do it! 

In other news I've now finished for the Christmas holidays and I've had a few nights out with friends to celebrate and I am so ready to have a few weeks off college so I can concentrate on my blog for a bit so hopefully there will be some new posts soon! 

Thanks am for reading 

Love Ellie | Makeup and other junk 

Choosing a uni...

Dear UCAS,

As some of you may know next year I will leave school and I am hopefully heading for university. But, what scares me the most is that I have no clue what I will be doing yet and I have less than a few days to decide. My sixth forms deadline for UCAS was last Friday and I am not usually one for missing deadlines but to me it didn't feel right to sign off my future just because I had to. I am only 17 years old, how am I supposed to know what I want to be doing with the rest of my life. Physically, I am seventeen but emotionally and mentally I still feel like I should be running around a playground playing hopscotch without a care in the world. Life was so much simpler when I was younger. I have so many questions regarding which uni I should choose that in reality only I can answer. At the minute the worst thing for me is seeing all my friends send off their applications and already getting back offers, when I am still on my sixth draft of my personal statement. But, this is really bugging me, along with a few other things I wont go into on here, but I am always known as the happy one in my group at college who never gets pissed off or upset but lately I have been anything but. How am I meant to know how far I want to go away from home when I have never been away for more than a few days, let alone three years. How am I supposed to know what courses I want to do when I now can't stand the subject I thought I wanted to do. I guess what I am saying is that I just don't know anymore. I don't know what to do. Sometimes I think I am just going to go to uni because I have nothing else to do if I don't go, yet I felt the exact same way about going to sixth form. But, sixth form has probably been the best thing that's ever happened to me. I've made the best friends that I have ever had and I don't want to leave. It's been the best two years of my life but I guess I am just not ready for it to be over. So, I am sure that I will be fine and whatever choice I make will be for the best and we'll see what happens from there.

Buying Books

It has to be said that I am such a bookworm and buying new books is so exciting as for me it's another world to escape into and find out about. My mum has always encouraged me to read as hashes a big reader herself so all my life I've consistently been taken to libraries and charity shops to buy books. So as this is a part of me that I've only ever shown briefly on my blog before I thought  I would show you some books I've bought recently.i

I've always loved the 'Hunger Games' series ever since I saw the first film and I'm annoyed that I didn't read the books first. So my mum bought me the first one and I enjoyed it so much I had to buy the next two. The books are so well written and in my opinion a lot better than the films.

I bought this in WHsmiths as it was on offer and I've always been intrigued by the plot of this book and I've not seen the film. I'm not sure yet if I will enjoy as some of my friends weren't too keen.

Fan girl is a book that looks so good so of course I had to buy it. I have starts this book but so far I just can't get into it but I'm really hopeful that it will get better soon.

I hope this post was ok. I feel a bit rusty as I've not written in so long - sorry!

But as always thank you so much for reading and comment if you have any book recommendations for me.

Lots of love 

Ellie x

About Last Night by Adele Parks

'For thirty years, best friends Stephanie and Philippa have been practically inseparable. There's nothing they would not do for one another. Until a few simple words change everything.
I need you to say that I was with you.'

Steph, eternally solid, considerate and dependable, is begging her best friend to lie to the police as she's desperately trying to conceal two shocking secrets to protect her family. Pip, self-consigned to the role of scatty, frivolous hot-head is overwhelmed; she's normally the one asking for help in a crisis although never anything as catastrophic as this. Both women have always believed that friendship is built on mutual selflessness, compromise and trust. Are those beliefs now to be tested beyond endurance?'

I have read a few novels by Adele Parks and she is a fantastic writer and this book definitely lives up to that title. I have to admit for the first couple of chapters I felt as though nothing was really happening so I didn't really engage much with the characters. However, as the story progressed I really got into it and couldn't wait for what would happen next. I am going to be honest and say that this book is by no means the best book I've ever read but I did enjoy it. I just felt as though the story was dragged out for a lot longer than it needed to but other than that it is a good story about how true friendship can conquer anything and if you want a friendship to last forever, then it will.

Thanks for reading :)

Love El | Makeup and other junk

Book: Lovestruck in London

As some of you may know I am quite a keen reader so I want to incorporate this into my blog in some way so I am going to be telling you about books I have read recently.

Trip to London

There is no doubt that London is one of the most astonishing places in the world and perhaps that's the reason I love it there so much. Last Monday my Dad and I went down to London on the train and being the blogger that I am I had to take my camera to take some pics!

The 1989 Tour - Taylor Swift

Two weeks ago my mum and I went to Manchester to go and see Taylor Swift on the 1989 world tour. Hands down this was the best night of my life. Everything about it was incredible, the sets, the dancers, Taylor!

I think over the years Taylor has been underestimated and although I have always adored her I think a lot of people really fell in love with her when her latest album 1989 hit the shelves. I was sat to the stage and luckily our seats were really good! Vance Joy supported and even though I only knew one of his songs he was amazing and so talented.

At around half past 8, the lights went down and lights started flashing. Dancers were emerging on to the stage and then she appeared. Taylor started with 'Welcome to New York' and i'm not going to spoil the rest of the setlist but all of the songs she performed were incredible but I think my favourites were 'Bad Blood' and the mashup of 'Enchanted' and 'Wildest Dreams' as well as 'You are in love'

Throughout the show Taylor gave some amazing speeches she told us how we are all beautiful and not the opinion of someone who doesn't know you. Texting back four hours later is rude, it's not flirting and your not a failure just because you haven't gotten to where you want to go yet. Taylor is so wise beyond her years and in all honesty if I can be half the person she is when I am 25 that will be an amazing achievement.

I am a huge swiftie so getting the opportunity to go and see her live was the best night of my life so far! Taylors mum was there as well and I am so jealous of everyone who got to meet her! If you are going to one of the other shows on the 1989 tour you will love it, I know I did. ( I also got a tad emotional on the way out but that's not the point haha!)

Thanks for reading xx


Love El | Makeup and Other Junk

Meghan Trainor - That Bass tour

                                                          Hi guys,
     Last month I went to The Ritz in Manchester to go and see Meghan Trainor on her 'That Bass Tour'. One of my favourite things in the world to do is go to concerts. I'm not sure why I just love the energy but also just dancing to the songs and having fun. Olivia Somerlyn was the support act and even though I had never heard of her before i thought she was so good, so super talented. In all honesty i only bought the ticket because i love 'All about that bass' but when i started listening to her album i was overwhelmed. The songs are so beautifully written and you should definitely all go and listen to it! My favourites on the album are Walkashame and Dear Future Husband.

I hope you guys like this one-off kind of post and also now all my exams are over i can spend a bit more time blogging!
Thanks for reading
El xx